Chapter Twenty
A few days later, Hayden showed up around noon at Nellie’s house, relieved to see Evie’s car was in the driveway parked next to a row of bandaged garden gnomes.
This was it. The big attempt at reconciliation he and Rhett had worked out. It was simple. Use the L-word—love—as often as possible. And grovel. Grovel a lot.
Hayden knocked on the door to the bungalow and waited, a hopeful smile in place and a loose bouquet of daisies in one hand.
“Hayden,” Evie said after opening the door. She looked good in her pink scrubs, probably better than he did in his Saturday night duds. She looked rested. Her smile was warm, although at second glance, that warmth wasn’t reflected in her blue eyes. “How’s Irene?”
“Gran’s doing well. No more wandering. Doc Merritt gave us lots of good advice—a tracking device in her boot, a motion alarm on the front door and the back door, and on the gate to Nugget’s stall.
” Hayden was babbling. Nerves had taken hold.
He drew a bracing breath. “We’re all working together to give her the best possible care while she recovers. But we miss you. I miss you.”
“That’s nice. I…I didn’t expect to see you so soon.” Evie reached for a thick manilla envelope sitting on a narrow table next to the door. “These are…the divorce papers.” She extended them his way. “It’s relatively straightforward since we’re both in agreement.”
This wasn’t part of the plan.
Hayden felt sucker punched. Acting on instinct, he drew his cowboy hat from his head, holding it over his heart. “I don’t want a divorce, Evie. I love you.”
His declaration was met with silence.
“I love you,” Hayden repeated, pushing onward with his campaign. There was too much at stake to stay quiet this time. “And I’ll do anything to win you back.”
“Hayden…” Evie seemed at a loss for words. Her gaze lingered on the bouquet of daisies in his hand.
His gaze lingered on those divorce papers.
He forced himself to press on. “Evie. You may have fallen for me first, but I… I’m sorry that I’ve been slow to recognize love or to trust my feelings where my heart is concerned.
When my mom left… When my dad died… When my grandfather washed his hands of me…
Even what happened between Violet and me…
” Hayden paused to steady his breath, setting his cowboy hat back in place.
“I was like a turtle, retracting into my shell.”
She smiled a little.
He didn’t stop to find out why. “It’s hard for me to stand in front of the woman I love and risk saying I love you, even if you told me how you felt first. I was scared. To be honest…I still am.” He didn’t want there to be any secrets between them.
Evie’s blue eyes filled with tears. She gripped the front door handle but said nothing.
I deserve that. I deserve this to be hard.
Hayden swallowed thickly.
A man can carry the world on his shoulders as long as his cowboy boots are planted firmly on the ground.
His grandfather’s words. They’d been tumbling back into his head lately. And they were just what he needed right now.
Hayden planted his boots on the porch. “I broke your heart while trying to protect my own,” he admitted softly.
“It was cowardly. And you deserve better than me. You and Katie deserve a man who’s willing to go out on a limb and admit his feelings.
” Hayden got down on one knee, placed the loose daisies on the deck, and extended the wedding ring she’d left on his dresser.
“I love you, Evie. You’re the one and only woman for me.
And I will move heaven and earth to show you I’m the one and only man for you.
I’ll move into town if you need me to. Missoula, if need be. ” Because home was where Evie was.
Evie bit her lower lip.
But she didn’t take Gran’s ring or fall into his arms and kiss him.
It was time for Plan B. Hayden tucked the ring back in his pocket.
“I love how much you nurture everyone.” Hayden handed Evie a daisy.
That, she accepted.
“I love how you never gave up on your dreams.” He handed her another daisy. “I love how patient you are with thick-headed cowboys.” A third flower passed hands.
“You remembered the proposal story I told Mom and Vi.” There were tears in her eyes.
“I remember everything you told me, honey.” The good and the bad. And he loved her for both.
Evie gestured toward the daisies still resting at his knee. “Do you have nine more reasons to love me?”
“You must know…” He swallowed thickly, handing her the rest of the flowers. “I have hundreds of reasons why I love you.”
Evie sniffed as if holding back tears.
Hayden drew a deep breath, getting to his feet.
“I can’t go back and rewrite the past. I’d do so many things differently if that were possible.
I’d have agreed with you that kisses lead to deeper feelings.
I’d have told you that’s the type of marriage I wanted, not a relationship that was based on friendship and only for show when we had an audience. ”
Evie blinked rapidly, looking away. She crushed the daisies and the divorce papers to her chest.
He took a chance and took hold of her hand.
“If I could do-over the past, I’d have told you that it was no accident that you found me at the precise moment you needed a husband, that PDA is always welcome, and that I don’t care how many animals Katie brings home.
She can keep them all. Because I’ve got enough room in my heart if we’re all together. The way we’re meant to be.”
A car pulled into the driveway next to hers. Nellie was at the wheel. Katie was in a car seat in back. Their eyes widened at the sight of him.
Evie slipped her hand free.
“But since I can’t go back in time,” Hayden continued in a voice thick with love and hope. “What I can do is ask to start over.” He drew a bracing amount of air. “So, here I am at your door asking for a date because I have feelings for you, Evie. And I think we could make each other happy.”
“Hay-Hay!” Katie ran up the porch steps and hugged his legs.
She had on her pink tutu today over silver leggings.
To complete her ensemble, she’d donned a white T-shirt and a red leather vest with fringe.
“Ms. Parsons says I was very brave in the woods. She’s my teacher.
” She paused for a breath. “I miss Mike, my cousins, Gran, Uncle Rhett, and you. You most of all, Hay-Hay. Are you here to take us home?”
“I’m hopeful, bug.” Hayden tore his gaze from that sweet young face and stared at Evie, waiting for an answer.
Praying for a yes.
“So, you’ve finally seen the light.” Nellie joined them on the porch, an uncompromising expression on her face.
She moved to stand next to Evie, blocking the door.
“You’ll have to ask my permission for a second chance with my daughter.
I want to keep her and my granddaughter safe. What assurances can you give me?”
“Only that I love your daughter and granddaughter with all my heart,” Hayden said with conviction.
“And that my family and I are working very hard to make sure Gran isn’t a danger to herself or others as she recovers.
But Nellie, love should never be based on conditions.
” He gave her a ragged smile. “I learned that from Evie.”
“Touché,” Nellie murmured, gaze catching on the daisies and divorce papers Evie held.
“And as for my love for your daughter…” Hayden’s voice had become low and raspy. This was the message he was most worried about. “I expect my love for her to grow stronger every day.”
Evie hadn’t stopped staring at Hayden since her mom had joined her at the door. But she said nothing. She gave no clue as to how he was doing.
Crash and burn comes to mind.
Poppy scampered out to greet Katie, purring and rubbing against her legs.
“My baby!” Katie scooped the kitten into her arms.
Poppy purred loudly. She and Katie were the only beings on the porch who were experiencing a happy reunion.
Hayden pushed aside the irony and cleared his throat. “So, what do you say, Evie? Do you want to start over and date me? Build up trust in our feelings for each other before we take the next step and commit to each other again?” For real this time.
“No,” Evie breathed the word out so softly Hayden barely heard it.
No?
Hayden felt dizzy, his knees weak.
But then Evie dropped the packet of divorce documents and daisies on the porch and said, “No way.”
No way?
Hayden registered the rejection. He reached out a hand to lean on a porch post.
“I don’t want to date you, Hayden.” Despite her words, Evie crossed the threshold and came to stand before him, sliding her arms around his neck.
“I want to be your wife…” She smiled that warm smile of hers, the one that made his heart pound faster, accelerated by love.
“I want to stay your wife. I spent the past few days wondering how to fix our marriage and drawing a blank because I didn’t think you loved me the way a husband should love his wife.
But then you showed up here, saying all the right things and…
I love you, Hayden. I love you so much for having the courage to show up like this. I know how hard it was for you.”
“I was hoping I still had a chance.” Hayden drew Evie close enough to smell her flowery scent.
“Me too.” Evie’s smile stretched.
“I can see where this is going,” Nellie said kindlier than she’d spoken before, reaching for her granddaughter’s hand. “Come on, Katie. Let’s give these two some privacy.”
“Why?” But Katie allowed herself to be led inside, followed by a scampering orange kitten.
Nellie closed the door behind them, but not before they heard her say, “And you’ll need to pack your suitcase.”
Katie squealed with glee.
“Now that Mom and Katie are on board.” Evie tightened her arms around his neck. “Where were we?”
“I was telling you how desperately I love you.” And then Hayden kissed her to prove it.
*
The following Monday, Eve appeared before Judge McKee in family court once more.
But this time, she wasn’t alone.
Hayden was with her. And with her loving husband by her side, Eve often felt as if she could do anything. Even keep Steven from taking Katie away from her. Hopefully.
Judge McKee didn’t appear to be in a good mood. He stared at Steven and said in a cold voice, “Mr. Atkinson, please explain why we’re here again today.”
Steven stood and delivered a heated version of Gran and Katie’s unsanctioned overnight trip peppered with legalese and finger pointing.
Eve tried to hold on to the belief that things would turn out okay. But Steven made it hard. She had years of history of him making it hard.
Hayden held Eve’s hand in both of his and whispered in her ear, “Don’t worry.”
He’d been saying that the entire trip from Bentwood Creek to Missoula. They’d consulted the Bennett family attorney to prepare for this court session. Hayden was confident they were prepared for this fight.
How I want to believe there’s nothing to fear here.
“Anything else you want to add to the record, Mr. Atkinson?” the judge asked when Steven ran out of steam.
“No, Your Honor.” Steven sat down and adjusted the lay of his suit jacket.
“Mrs. Bennett?” The judge’s attention swung to Eve. He was an older gentleman with a full head of white hair and eyes that seemed to miss nothing.
She stood, heart pounding, smoothing the wrinkles in her soft green dress. “I admit that our daughter went out riding with my grandmother-in-law.”
Steven made a noise that was half-growl and half-groan.
“And that as a stroke victim, Irene’s faculties haven’t completely returned,” Eve continued, trying to remember the points she’d rehearsed with the Bennett lawyer. “But she’s regaining her faculties at a steady pace and—”
“Objection! Will she be sane and present tomorrow?” Steven demanded, red faced and shooting to his feet.
“Your Honor, Eve can’t guarantee our daughter’s safety even when this old woman regains her faculties.
Not on a ranch full of barely domesticated animals and heavy machinery.
We’re lucky Katie is alive. That’s why we’re here.
To keep her safe. I’m demanding primary custody on those grounds. ”
Judge McKee pounded his gavel. “Take a seat, Mr. Atkinson.”
Eve sat immediately. And she hadn’t even been asked!
Steven sat down very slowly, more like a rebellious teen than a trial attorney respectful of a presiding judge.
This judge didn’t look pleased. “Mr. Atkinson, have you ever lived on a ranch?” His strong tone echoed in the chamber and had everyone sitting up straighter.
“No, Your Honor,” Steven said mulishly, fiddling with the knot of his tie.
“Did your grandparents ever take care of you for a day or a weekend when you were younger?” the judge continued.
Steven flinched, sitting back in his chair. “Not often, Your Honor.”
“That’s a shame.” Judge McKee made a note. “Because experiences on a ranch or with grandparents, who tend to provide a child with a bit more independence, can be character building. I know this from personal experience.”
Hayden cradled Eve’s hand in his and whispered, “Don’t worry,” into her ear.
This time, she was fully inclined to believe him.
“I’ve seen and heard far too much of you, Mr. Atkinson.” The judge set his pen down. “I’m not granting you primary custody of your daughter—”
Eve gasped.
“—and I’m ordering you and Mrs. Bennett to attend co-parenting therapy.”
“But Your Honor—”
The gavel cracked once more, silencing Steven.
Eve held her breath.
The judge leaned forward. “Mrs. Bennett has provided documents from her grandmother-in-law’s doctor, the sheriff’s rescue team report as to your daughter’s condition when found, plus an affidavit from her husband regarding the changes that have been made on the property for safety reasons.
And all you’ve provided me with are bitter, bitter words. ”
Steven stared at the wall.
“I will agree to see you again, Mr. Atkinson, after you’ve completed court ordered therapy and six months have passed.” Judge McKee picked up his gavel and pounded it, gently this time. “Next case.”
Hayden’s arms came around Eve, and he drew her to her feet, kissing her soundly.
“Bailiff, please ask the Bennetts to contain their reaction until they are outside the courtroom.”
The bailiff didn’t have to say a word. Eve and Hayden ran out of the courtroom and all the way to the parking lot. Eve had never realized she could both laugh and cry at the same time, much less run while doing it. In heels, no less.
Violet would be proud.